The Morning Kickoff: A Q&A with Jack Jewsbury

You can say this much for Jack Jewsbury, he’s no slouch. Jewsbury was traded from Sporting Kansas City to Portland on Tuesday, and less than 24 hours later he was in Oregon training with Timbers. On Wednesday night, he took time to talk with The Star.

Jewsbury was traded from Sporting Kansas City to Portland on Tuesday, and less than 24 hours later he was in Oregon training with Timbers. On Wednesday night, he took time to talk with The Star.

Q: Has it been a crazy time for you?

A: It’s been a bit of whirlwind for the last 36 hours.

Q: Were you expecting this trade?

A: PV (coach Peter Vermes) and I had a conversation a few weeks ago about me and what’s going on with the team and what direction they are looking. I basically said I want to be a major part of this team and I feel like I’m a starter. If that’s not the case, then no hard feelings, but I’d like to be on a team where I do have that chance. I think it was a hard decision for them and obviously for me to leave Kansas City. It’s a place that will always be close to my heart. At the same time, it is a business not just for them, but for myself. I think it’s the best thing for both parties.

Q: You were in Arizona with Sporting. Where are you training now?

A: We’re in Portland right now. We go to Seattle this weekend for a few exhibition games. One against Seattle and the other against Vancouver on Friday and Saturday.

Q: What’s it like to be with a new team just two days after being with Sporting?

A: I found out before training (on Tuesday), so I didn’t train with KC at all, then flew out here and had training with the guys here. Obviously it’s a bit different. I had a lot of good friends in KC, so it’s obviously hard to leave them. I have friends and family who are close, but at the same time, it’s good to get here and meet the new faces. There are a lot of young guys with potential who are eager to win. But it’s a young group, so I think the leadership qualities that I bring will definitely help.

Q: Speaking of friends, you and Davy Arnaud were particularly close. Is that tough saying goodbye to him?

A: Yeah, absolutely. Davy and I played together for eight years. Not only that, but our wives and our daughters, we all hang out. So it’s a little harder to leave relationships that you’ve built over a long period of time. But we’ll definitely stay close.

Q: Are you going to move to Portland or have you thought about the off-the-field things you’ll need to take care of?

A: I think it’s important that your family is around you on a daily basis. I have some things to take care of in terms of the house in Kansas City. As soon as I can get my wife and daughter out here, we’ll do it as long as it makes sense and it’s an easy transition for them. That’s the most important thing.

Q: Is it strange to have heard so much about Sporting’s new stadium that will open and you won’t be here when it does?

A: Definitely. That’s one of the negatives. Playing at Arrowhead and then at CommunityAmerica and the buzz about everything in Kansas City with the new stadium, it’s a little disheartening not to be able to open that stadium. But at the same time, we’ll be back there and maybe they’ll give me a special tour of it all. I’d love to see the locker room for the guys, because I’ve heard so much about all those things. At the same time, there are are a lot of cool and neat things going on here in Portland. They’ve renovated their stadium, so it’s exciting and there’s definitely a buzz about things here in this city. It’s good to see these teams and MLS in general. It seems like with all these new stadiums and new teams, the sport is growing and growing and that’s a good thing.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say to the fans in Kansas City?

A: I appreciate all of them. Ever since my first year there, they’ve made me feel very welcome. I had some great memories I’ll never forget, especially the 2004 season. Kansas City will always be near and dear to my heart. It’s hard to leave, but then again, it’s part of the gig we’re in.